Reflector lamp and optical system



J. H. KURLANDER REFIECTOR LAMP AND' OPTICAL'V SYSTEM May 18, 1948.

Filed Feb. f1, 1945 cam? Para? Patented May 18, 1948 I l lightness Qf the. 16151. against ,which el fisllsyfasygt dawn; dusk',

ment. The spherical surface has a focal length*- equal to one-half the radius of curvature, when A,

approximating a parabolic surface'for projecting parallel light rays. If the filament isplacedat said focal point, the image will beapproxirnately i. projected to infinity and the combination-serves as a form of searchlight projector.

For positions of the filament betweenY 1 tm'; s focal point and the center of curvature, thejmgge will be formed somewhere between infinity and the', center of curvature. The location of4 said image can, therefore, be accurately controlled by positioning the image between the focal point and the center of curvature.

The filament is 'positionedso thatthe projected beam of light is big enough to cover the reticle. The size of the reticle, of course, will determine, not only the filament position but'al'so, to a certain extent,'the radius of curvature of the spheri-i cal surface.- At any rate the operating limits'of the system are sufficient to take care of thereticle sizes as Vnow used.'

It is desirable in lamps Vused. in` .reiiex sightsto have a second filament for standby service. or'

' to provide a low intensity-ofreticle'illumination to meet Aconditions of low sky, brightness, orto give some variation in the pointvof focusof the beam of light. If onlyv low intensity is required of the secondk orminor filament its candle power and positioning are of secondary importance. Nevertheless with the type-f lamp DIOpOSe'd it is possible, if necessary, .to have both filaments serve as majors Vso'that vvirtually optimumgillumination can be obtained .from either and both caribe used simultaneouslyfor tropicalcom-f bat-Where the sky A,brightness reaches its maxiv-l'teferring'nowsto the drawing in detaiLlike parts being designated by like reference char-` acters, 4and first considering the embodiment illustrated in Figa-1 to 3, inclusive, there i'sjshown an incandescent lamp II' having aspherical bulb I2, of the type generally designated by the West inghouse Electric 8a Manufacturing Company as G9 which has an outside diameter of approximately one andone-eighth inches.V A b ulbof such a size is shown because it fits present equipment. i However, I do not wish tojbe so' limited as the bulb may be of'any suitable size; Said bulbhas a generally cylindrical neck portion I3 projecting therefrom and closed by a fiare tube Illv which, in the present embodiment, hasfthree leads, I5, I6 and I'Iconnectine, respectively, with the filament supports I8, I9 and V2|V extending from the press 2B.' The lament supports I9 and 2l hold the minor orrsecond filament 22^in a normally horizontallylposition between their free ends, while the support AI8 and an extensionl 23 welded to the support 2| as at 24, holds ,the major filament 25-in a normally vertical position.

inasmuch as it isdesirableto have thflare tube i4`V extend axially of the bulb 4I2 andneck I3 thereof,lsupports'l18 I9 and `2l aredesirably bent, as shown most clearlyin Figs. ,1. and 3,v so

that vthe majorfilament 2S'fisdisposed' midway between an axial plane of the bulb and neck and Y with the reflecting surface. Y

the center 26 `of the reflecting surface provided on the exterior or interior of said bulb, and desirably covering one-half the area thereof as shown most clearly in Fig. l. This coating may be of aluminum, silver, gold, or other specular material. If a colored material such as gold is used, selective reflectionwill occur, possibly making it unnecessary to have a color filter to use therewith to make the reticle image contrast With the background. lFor `,ease in Happlying the coating and for accuracy'in thedistribution thereof, the bulb is desirablyblown-withv a pronounced mold mark -21 lying in an'jaxial-"plane thereof, which plane 15'- is 'that which ,defines the edge of the reflecting l coating andvdeterrnines the setting of the major "filament-'25. 'This may be effected in any desired manner, as by using a two-piece stationary mold. This mold mark'not only visually divides the spherical, bulbinto .two equal portions Vertical1y,to, show gwliat'part is to be mirrored, but can bie use d for .setting the Alead ,wires and base pins.' 'The filament 25 is also desir-ably positioned so. that its center lies in the Vplane through the buIbbenterjWhichis perpendicular to the bulb axis. Y

, The minoriilament 22 is desirablydisposed in this axis-perpendicular pla neso,that, as 4.viewed in Fig. 2it makesa vcross with the major filament, as it also liesina plane parallel tonthavt of the mold mark, as illustrated. Y,In .one embodiment both filaments may be of the lsame size', of the oo iltype,t and if used in a 'bulb of the preferred embodiment illustrated, the voltage may be 281 and .thecandle power 2Ifor eachlament. However, ifdesired' the minor filament may be str-aight, and the candle power thereof may be much less, or any desired variation may be made within the spirit and .scope of the invention, s

Although I contemplate leaving the other half ofthe .bulb clear, yet to get greater uniformity of illumination therefrom it is desirable `to frost, as indicated at 28, the part or half that is notgcoated Referring now to the embodiment of my invention, of which Fig.' 4'shows only thegmount construction, it ispointed out that the bulb proposed to enclosethe mount is desirably identical withthe bulb l2 of the first embodiment. The mount of'FigJl is a simplification of the'mount illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in that the "pressadjacent portions of the filament supports I8, ISIai and '2]{rjextend'parallelYto the axisofthe bulb and its `flare ijlulzyeldfi` with press `29a V(rather than extending diagonally, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 3), until near the filaments when theyv are bent at rightangles.; j j

jThe 'support L8*L ,isY desirablyV bent once` atright angles to provide the lower or iiarefadjacent support for the major filament 25a. The support I9EL is desirablybenttwice atV right angles, asfillustratedrto providethe support for one end of the nnnornlamentzz?, While thesupport 2 la iS desirably bent four times at ,rightanglea as illustrated, the second section after bending providingrthe support for the other endof the minor filament 22?: and the. fourthsection aftery bending pro- Y 53 tionrof-Figs. 1,12 and. Itlwill'beunderstood that'. the-diagrammatic? showings tobe now described irnaytuse aV mountof theconstruction illustrateddni Figa? 'or that of'-Fig;i4,.as' desired.y

Referring nowparticularly to Fig; 5, itisther'ev diagrammatically shown. Ahow .L to posi-tion the' major filament 25-or 253,1 the-'minor filamentZZ.y or22e'; and the' reectin'g'surface 26T' with respect tolwthefbulb 52;.' .The fact is'indioated thatthe light from Lthe-maj or .filament 275' iis reflected;J in approximately. parallel rays yfrom the. surface 26, to -nallyimpinge ontan articlelto be illuminated,v such iastl'iereti'clev Zl f. 'lhev light 'from .then'iin'or lainent :22;,which in `the' embodimentillustrated is disposed fromthemajor filanien-t lif'two'lto three". millimeters. toward thecenter of. the. bulb, becomes' concentrated to .-a .coniugate .focus i., from whence the same diverges to illuminate? the reticlez'or other object, as-may bevdesiredV VIt willgasthereforebe seen'thatlsome Vibration incon'centration and .brilliancy may b'e eiie'ctedgby using one.the othenortboth 'of the filaments 25 andzl22;V even if ythey are each of `thesame candle powenl' Fig;.=6 isla diagrammaticfshowing of asimilar bulb".y l2b,`"except thatthe filaments @Wand-.25e have -both'been shifted,.as by corresponding "rotative. movement'of ltheir'supports through a 15vo angle, .as. an example only, and 'the. vreflecting coating hasJ been correspondingly. modiiiecL- so as todirectylight Ona reticleor other object fbfo'n aline belowthe planethrough the' center ofthe; bulbi and perpendicular to vthe axis Y thereof. Suchnani arrangement would: beused if the lamp werednv a ysystenfi 4in .Whichvthe beamloflight from xthe' illuminated reticle is .tobe-at arcorrespending. angle, one Way ortheother., .with'the planenormal'toi. the .axisoffthef la'rnp bulb.'

Referring now. to the vdiagrarnm'atie optical arrangementillustrated` in Figi?, there is shown a telescopic orV sight 'tube 32,:which may beattached :to a gun for sighting the same. on=a target 3. Said. tuhedesira'bly contains'va neu'A tralsun iilterxfiV which may be used ini t-h'e4 position illustrated, ifthe tubexis sighted against the' sun, or-*moved out'ofr the AWay by means (not shown). if .used on a cloudy vor. dull-day, or `in a direction :away from the" sun. Thetube 32"- also contains a transp-arent reflector plate 35,'-1nountedzatgan angle of L15?*with'.'zrespeot tothe axis thereoffso.; that lightfrorn a lsidetube 35,' ex-y tendinginfthepresent embodiment atan angle 90? with respect to the tube 32'; is reiiected axially' ofrsaid tube; intoV the eye 3T ofthe observer.

The side tube 4i'is so' disposed thatrits'axis intersects the axis of the telescopic tube-32h11' tl'ferearforxrefiecting surface oftheplatei It contains a projection-lens system te, at the'focus of'which is disposed a reticle 29, used either with orwithout a colorfilterv 39', and llu'minate'd'from a lamp Il embodying my invention. V

Said-lamp'- I l ldesirably has a bayonet-type base comprising a conductive shell lZZ-COnneCting withr` one lead-in: conductor `and two 'bottom cori-"- tacts @Band lill; respectively connecting-with the other. .leadein conductors.. The lamp 'mayA be usedfwith' a battery 45, :or: other source of power, and a' rhecstat t6' for adjusting .the intensity ofillumination, a switch 41 serving` to' energize eith'er.- one or lo'oth' of the filaments?!- Yand 25; las desired. 'i It' wil1.also,f of course; be understoo'df thatfthe shell 12 s'erveslas'the common connection to which the .lead-incondu'ctorglIiis attached-:ji 'Y From the foregoing it will beundeistood that'- an.. observer or gunner looking through 'the Eisele;y

scopic tube 32Vv sees v .thetarget 33. and vthe bright` image.. of lthe v`retcle.. The.. latter .may .be .1in-.

scribed- Witha central dot and .concentric circles; cross lines, and/or other means 'which are Afocused on the target in order to not vonlymake it pos-.s sible to aim. thereat but alsotojudge distances. L

From theforegoing, itwill lbe' seen thatlI hav-e devised an improved lamp and meanslfor .illurnb nating a gun. sight :more efficiently. than hereto'- fore, thereby overcomingprevious.difhculties and making it possible to aima .guneven iunder the Inostadverse :.conditions. It.'=will,f:fof' .course-be understood -fth'at-I contemplate using lamps. em.- bodying my invention-formanypullosea` includingsound-recording, `sound-repreducing, `'and motion @pictureprojection. Theebulbfniay. be madelefl ultra-violet transmitting glass,` if T de'- sired so fasi to` use Athat component. 'of .the gc-n. eratedfradations. 1 Although .preferred embo'diments off -niyinvention have been disclosedirit.willbe'understood that modifications imay bemade within thespir-it and scope oftheappended claimen. f Y

I claim:

l. fA-reflector lamp -comprisingva generally spherical-'bulb' wltha -neck porti'oln'-lext'endiiig therefrom, ymeans 1 closing1 said neel; 4portion'fand comprising filaments and. 'their'flead-in' conductors, .and a .reecting coating onvapproxiniatcly one-half '0f said-'spherical portion; one rcfsaid` filaments extending generally? parallel to .the of. saidbulb and v'disposed.approximatr-el hhalf wayv Vbetween ythe central lpor-ticn 'ofr'eiiecting coating and the axial planeiof lthe:bulhwhich defines thezedge vof said coating. and theother filament extending approximately at right :angles to the plane ofv the -rst-mentioned .filament and bulb l'axiaand :beingdisposed between said' mentioned filament" andthe center of sai but as close to theformer. as'lisfeasibl'eh operating difficulties,` wherebythe slight' fron first filament is refleotedin substantiallyparallel rays', while that from Saidasecondfilainent'is :conn cent1-ated tof a .conjugatelfocusf 2. A .reiiector'lamp comprising a bulb, generally spherical; .with a `neck portion .extending there-c from, means "formingla .mount closing. said .neck

portion and; supporting'. a filament, .a reecting coating. over approximately .one+half f 'ofi said spherical. portion and; frosting on the other. half thereoLasaid filament extendinggenerally parallel tothe axis of. said bulb'and disposed approxi-s` mateiyhalf .way between the plane of thezdividing line between the reflectingzcoating and frosting. andftltiey centralv portion of. said reflecting coating':so-that said. coating. refiects the' light from said'ilament inv approximately vparallel rays.

3. A reflector. lampncomprisinga generally spherical bulb. having a neck :portion-extending therefrom, means formingra mount closing said neckV portion candsupporting.- a filament, a mold markf'in the aX-ial'plane o-fssaid'bulbrdivid-ingthe sphericalportioni in half, and. a reflecting'coating Ionthe bulbvon all. ofsoner sideiofV saidcmold mark,l .said -filamentextending generally:paral lel tothe .lamp axis vand disposed approximately halfway between A,the plane-.of-said mold mark ,and-the central portion .of-v said. reflecting coat.- inf,T Vso.` that said coating reflectsthe .lightfroni said filamentin approximatelyparallel rays.

4. A reiie'ctor lamp,.,compriSl2s ar generally spherical bulbV having' a. diametery of. about 3.1/8" andra neck portion extending'therefrom, means forming'- a filament-supporting mount` closing said neck portion, a reiiectingcoating'cn approx:

aaai-,sas

imateiy. ail of the bulb to one sideiofjan ,axial plane, one mount-supportediilament,lying gen-i erally parallel to the bulb axis and disposed A approximately midway between the plane of, the edge of said coating and thecentral portion of said coating, and Yanother ,mount-supported filatherefrom, a ilare tube, with lead-in-conductors,`

supports and a filament forming a mount, closing said neck portion, and a reflecting coating on approximately all of said spherical portion to one side of an axial plane of-said-bulb,said lilarnent extending generally parallel to thej lamp axis and disposed approximately midway between said axial plane and the central portion of said reflecting coating so that said co'atingreects the lig-ht from said filament in approximately parallel rays. r Y

6. A rei-lector lamp comprising a generally spherical bulb with a neck portion extending therefrom, a flare tube, with lead-in conductors, supports and a lament forming a mount, closing said neck portion, and a reflecting coating on approximately all olf said spherical portion to one side of a plane set at an acute angle to the axis of said bulb, said filament extending generally parallel to said plane inV a plane perpendicular thereto and containing the bulb axis and disposed approximately midway between it and the central portion of said reiiectingcoating.

7. A reector lamp comprising a generally spherical bulb having a diameter of about one and one-eighth inches, a neck portion extending therefrom, a iiare tube, with lead-in conductors, supports and filaments forming a mount, closing said neck portion, a mold mark in the axial plane of said bulb dividing the spherical portion in half, and a reflecting coating to one side of said mold mark on approximately one-half of said spherical portion and frosting on the other half thereof, one of said filaments extending parallel to the axis and disposed approximately midway between the plane of the mold niark and the central portion of said reecting coating, the other extending approximately at right angles to the plane of lsaid first-mentioned filament and the bulb axis, and being disposed about two to three millimeters from saidfirst filament toward the plane of said mold mark, whereby the light from saidrst lament is reected in substantially parallel rays while that from said second iilamentl is concentrated to a conjugate focus.

8. A reiiector lamp comprising a generally spherical bulb with a neck portion extending therefrom, a mount disposed in said neck por,- tion and comprising a flare tube with a press, supports extending lfrom said press, lead-in conductors connecting with the outer ends'of said supports and a filament having a straight axis and supported on the inner ends of saidsupports, said supports extending from said press in such a direction that said iilament is disposed with its axis generally parallel to that of said bulb and halfway between the center and a side of the bulb, all of that side of said bulb adjacent said filament having a reiiecting coating, so thatfthe coating reflects the light from said filament in approxi--A mately parallel rays. Y Y i f 8 i 1.9..; AQreectOLlamp ,comprising a generally spherical bulb with a neck `portion extending therefrorma mountdisposed in said neck portion and vcomprisinga'.are tube with a press, supports extendingr vfron'ijsaidV press, lead-in conductors connecting Vwith the outer ends of said supports and filaments supported on the inner ends thereof, said supports extending diagonally from said pressso: that Aone of said laments is disposed halfway between the center and side of the bulb and *the `other close to said rst iilament, crosswise thereof, `and toward the centerof said bulb, that portion of said bulb adjacent said rst mentioned filament having a specular surface, so that ythe light from said first mentioned iilament is projected in approximately parallel rays and that from the other filament is concentrated to a conjugate focus.` Y 1 Y 10.` A reflector lampv comprising a Ygenerally spherical bulb with a neck portion extending therefrom, a mount disposedin'said neck portion and comprising aiflare tube with a press, three supports extending from said press, lead-in conductors connecting with the outer ends of said supports and a pair of filaments supported on the inner ends thereof, said supports-extending from said press first parallel to the bulb axis, one then bent laterally and connected to one end of one filament, another then bent laterally and the free end of said lateral portion bent to extend parallel to said axis and connected to one end of the other filament,` and the third then bent and appropriately positioned different portions connected yto the other ends of saidfllainents, so that one of said filaments is disposed halfway between the center and side ofthe bulb, and the other crosswise thereofl and toward the bulb-center, that portion of the'bulb adjacent said rst-rnentioned filament having a specular surface.

11. A reflector lamp comprising a generally spherical bulb with a neck `portion extending therefrom, a mount disposed in said neck portion and comprising a iiaretube with a press, supports extending from said press, lead-in conductors connecting with the outer ends of said supports and a filament mounted thereon, said supports holding the filament at a distance from the center of the bulb equal to that of half the bulb radius, that portion of said bulb adjacent said lament having a specular surface so that the light from said filament is projected in approximately parallel rays, a third iilament support, and another filament mounted in said bulb between said mst-mentioned iilament and the center and extending between said third and one of the other supports.

12. A reflector lamp comprising a generally spherical bulb with a neck portion extending therefrom, a mount disposed in said neck portion and comprising a Hare, a iilament, that portion of said bulb adjacent said filament having a 'specular surface, another filament disposed between said lament and the center of said bulb, supports for oneof said laments extending from said flare, an additional support extending from said are to one end of the other iilament, and a branch support extending from one of said firstmentioned illament'supports to the other end of said other iilament.

13. A reflector lamp Acomprising a generally spherical bulb, means positioning a pair of filaments adjacent one side of said bulb, and a reflecting coating on the filament-adjacent side of said bulb, one of said laments extending generally parallel, and theother at ,an angle, to the lamp axis, one of said nlaments being disposed -approximately half-way between the central portion of the reflecting coating and the axis of the lamp, and the other being disposed between said first filament and the center of the bulb, but as close to the former as is feasible Without operating diiiculties, whereby the light'from said rst lament is reected in substantially'parallel rays while that from said second filament is concentrated to a conjugate focus.

14. A reflector lamp comprising a generally spherical bulbwlth a neck portion extending therefrom, a mount disposed in said neck portion and comprising a are tube with -a press, supports extending from said press, lead-in conductors connecting with the outer ends of said supports, and a filament with a straight axis and supported on the inner ends thereof, said supports extending diagonally from said press and holding said filament, with its axis parallel to that of the bulb and neck portion, approximately half-Way between the center and a side of the bulb, all of that half of the bulb adjacent and in which said filament is centered having a specular coating that reects the light from said filament in approximately parallel rays.

15. A reflector lamp comprising a generally spherical bulb with a neck portion extending therefrom, a mount disposed in said neck portion and comprising a flare tube with a press, a plurality of supports extending from said press, lead-in conductors connecting with the outer ends of said supports, and a lament, with a straight axis lying in a plane parallel to that off the bulb and neck portion, supported on the inner ends thereof, said supports extending from said press,

10 first parallel to the bulb axis, and then bent laterally for connection to the respective ends of the filament so that the latter is disposed approximately half-Way between the center and a side of the bulb, all of that half of the bulb adjacent and in which said filament is centered having a specular coating that reilects the light from said filament in approximately parallel rays.

JOHN H. KURLANDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,616,660 Henderson Feb. 8, 1927 1,705,146 Willson Mar. 12, 1929 1,974,388 Christmas Sept. 18, 1934 1,981,329 Rivier Nov. 20, 1934 1,998,187 Conti Apr. 16, 1935 2,110,590 Cook, Jr. Mar. 8, 1938 2,142,104 Birdseye Jan. 3, 1939 2,144,521 Bergmans et al. Jan. 17, 1939 2,171,571 Karnes Sept. 5, 1939 2,190,569 Macgill Feb. 13, 1940 2,221,629 Birdseye Nov. 12, 1940 2,245,793 Kurlander June 17, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 214,290 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1924 300,937 Germany Oct. 1, 1917 303,844 Germany June 12, 1919 766,557 France Apr. 16, 1934 

